Brake for fishing reels



July 26, 1949.. w. M GILL BRAKE FOR FISHING REELS Filed Dec. 25, 1947 IN VEN TOR. Mo 6 MAW/0m BY 7 7Z W 6W Mm A from? 6 (/5 Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William McGill, McAllen, Tex. Application December 23, 1947, Serial No. 793,461

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved brake forfishing reels, whereby the unreeling of the fishing line may be automatically controlled to reduce the tendency of the line to unreel during the casting operation faster than the same is pulled out by the sinker, thus preventing the condition known as back lashing.

The invention has for its chief object the provision of brake-control mechanism for attachment to a fishing reel of conventional construction, without substantial alteration of the structure of the reel or interference with the usual operating parts of the same.

A further object of i the invention is to provide a brake for a fishing reel which can be adjusted for widely differing conditions of use, such as arise when sinkers of various weights are employed.

Another object is the provision of brake-control mechanism for fishing reels having means wherebythe same can be applied and released at will, and which, when applied, is automatically effective to control the unreeling of the line.

A still further object is to provide a fishing reel brake mechanism of simple design and rugged construction, having few operating parts, and capable of withstanding the constant wear and rough usage to which such a device is likely to be subjected.

More specifically stated, the invention comprises a spring-pressed, pressure-applying member, carried on a rotatably mounted, adjustable shaft, having securing and releasing means for maintaining the same in adjusted condition to apply pressure to the reel brake, or entirely releasing the same therefrom.

The invention will best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting the specification of the same, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a portion of a fishing rod carrying a reel upon which the invention is mounted;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, showing the reel and braking mechanism in cross-section, taken along the line 22, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing structural details of the mechanism by which the adjustment and release of the brake is controlled.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, A indicates the handle of a conventional fishing rod, having a reel seat B, screw-threaded portions C and threaded ring D for securing a reel on said seat. E indicates a reel of usual construction having side plates F which are connected by the rod G, said reel being mountedon a plate H. The casing K, at one side of said reel, contains the conventional gear mechanism, not shown, by which the spool M of the reel may be rotated by a crank L. The spool M of the reel operates on the shaft N mounted in jeweled bearings O. The reel is provided with the usual thumb brake comprising a leatherpad P mounted on a plate R carried on a shaft S. The reel may also have a level winding mechanism, generally indicated by W, whereby theeven winding of the fish line indicated by Y is assured. 1

The form of the reel brake illustrated in the drawings comprises brackets, fastened to opposite sides of the reel, a shaft supported in said brackets, and carrying spring means for applying pressure to the leather pad P. p

The bracketsvindicated at H! and Il may be attached to the'side plates of the reel by screws, welding or the like, or the brackets may be formed integrally with the parts of the reel which supportlthem. Y,

The shaft indicated at I2 is rotatable in the brackets l0 and H by means of an enlarged knurled head l5, andis provided near one end with teeth IT. A latch l8 having the form of an arcuate shoe is positioned for slidable movement on the peripheryof the casing K. The latch. l8 has an arcuate recess 19 of greater radius than the shaft l2, and provided with a tooth 20 at the lower extremity of said recess for engagement with the teeth l1; 1

The spring means for applying pressure to the leather pad T is preferably formed in one piece comprising a loop I4 having at each end coiled spring portions l6, arranged in spaced relation on the shaft l2. The free ends of the coiled spring portions l6 are inserted through holes 22 extending transversely through the shaft [2.

A hearing plate 24 having a flat portion bearing against the leather pad P is pivotally supported on the shaft l2 by downwardly extending perforated flanges 25. As best seen in Figure 1, the loop H of the spring means passes over the flat portion of the bearing plate and engages the edge'portion 2| thereof, so that the same is pressed against the leather pad P when the spring means is in operative condition.

The portion 26 of the bearing plate between the downturned flanges 25 thereof extends beyond the shaft l2 sufliciently to be within easy reach of the thumb of a person operating the fishin reel. The portion 26 forms a means by which the bearing plate may be rotated about the shaft I2 to control, if desired, the pressure of the bearing plate and the loop H on the leather pad P.

In operation of the above-described embodiment of the invention, the shaft I2 is rotated by means of the knurled head l5 in a direction to wind up the coil spring portion IS. The tooth 20 of latch |8 gengagipg the teeth 11;: retains the coil spring-portion--= l6 in wound condition. In this condition of the mechanism, the loop l4 bears against the pad 15, pressing the same int Y contact with the line wound on the reel thu s checking the operation of the same in casting and 5 preventing back lashing.

The loop l4 also bears uporrtheplate 24, which in turn bears upon the entire width-of the pad P, thus providing a more even application gQfgPI'QSjg sure to the pad.

he a ount. ofepres hreebmueht tobear. upon... he pad. Pe an .thustl e JGElHh e t ad u the reel for used-with .any, desired eight of sinker or other fishin -acc s ory, rattachedqto. the lineh r ert in renditi ns en. i is d s ra l 25,

to ,releasgthe pressureon the pad P, the same ay afl hlly who ly,,r iev d ypr s ing slightly .on,the, eX te IliOn 1642i the plate 24 ,to opp ose.;.the .acti01 of, the coil spring portions l6...

, For use with ,fishin lures, ,of a 'yery light oharacter, such aswfiies it, may .be.,des irable to r entirelyreleaseutheppressure oi. the brake mechanism, ,in which case theglatch l 8 can be, moved to hringthetoothzo out of en a ement with the l teethll. ,Theshait llwill thenrotate to permit35.

the coil spring Portions l6 touunwind he e can whe .be per edrin the. usu l waynsin i pressure or the thumb .on, the pad P,. if desired, to check the speedpf the.v reel.

Thebrakingrnechanism can, oi course, be mad .40

n a y desired p pprtions for a tachment t reels of all sizes, and the ginvention thus provides-a device of simple constrllqtifln an W d pp i a tion, having. few parts, and capable of withstand: ins. t I hand I u a e 7 ,to which .such..d vices are customarily subjected.

It will, oIcQurse, Joe ,understoqdthatithe hereinbefore desmfiedrmbodiment of, th nreneti nis n endedlformhr os spf illustra i npnly, and numer usalterations inlth a seof. n; stru n and arransementp gthe l a iousl arts can be madewithout departing irpm, the spirit of the inventionrpr theoneof theappended, c a ms.

Harin no c a lm own a h escrihedfl e 55 invention, what is claimed and desiredjo secure yL l t s Pate t legs.

1. .In, a brake. 01 a -..-fishing, ree havi a pad.

engaging a line wound on said reel, means for applying pressure to said pad including a spring engaging said pad, and carried by a rotatable shaft mounted on said reel, and means for adjusting the pressure of said spring comprising teeth on said shaft and a latch carried on said reel for engagement with said teeth.

2. In a brake for a fishing reel having a pad engaging a line wound on said reel, means for applying, pressure to saidpad including a bearing plate engaging said pad and .pivotally carried on a rotatable shaft mounted on said reel, a spring engaging said plate and carried on said shaft, and means for adjusting the pressure of said spring comprising teeth on said shaft and a latch carriecl--;- on ;said reel for engagement with said engaging-a line wound on said reel, means for applying pressure to said pad including a U hape membenb r s on said a and r nating, in coil :springs carried on a rotatable ,shaft mounted on said reel, and means for adjusting, the tension of said springs comprising teethon said shaft'and a latch carried on said reel for, engagement with said teeth.-

4.'In a brake for a fishing reel havinga pad engaging a line wound onsaid reelymeans for applying pressure togsaid pad including 'a bear ing plate engaging said pad and pivotally carried on a rotatableshaft mounted on said reel,'a U-; shaped member bearing onsaid pad, and terminating-incoil springs carried on said shaft, and, means for adjusting; the tension on said springs comprising teeth-0n saidjshaftand ,a latch; carried on said reelfor engagement with; said teeth:

5.--In"a brakefor-a fishing reel having a pad engaging a line wound on said reel, mear1s for A applying pressure --;to said padinoluding a spring engagement with said teeth, and means-for re- Having the pressure of said spring on -said pad comprisinga bearingplate engaging said pad beneath saidspring-and pivoted on said shaft;-

' WILLIAM 'M GILL';

REFERENCES :CITED h lfollowing)references are of record in, the file l f .t is patent;

' UNITED ISTA'I'ESg-PA'I'ENTS" 

